Translator: CinderTL
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
Sudden explosions erupted, and the iron fence and walls of the grand villa were pierced with human-sized holes.
A fierce gale swept through, and a golden arrow shot forward relentlessly.
The wild grass in the garden was uprooted, and all the servants widened their eyes in shock.
Someone reacted quickly, pulling out a revolver, but before he could pull the trigger—
Bang!!
Bone fragments scattered, and blood sprayed wildly.
It was as if he had been crushed into pieces by a runaway train, leaving only a bloody mess staining the ground.
The woman in the gray cloak, named Fran, turned pale with horror. In the next moment, she saw the golden figure rush into the house.
Swish! A flash of golden light, and the obese figure in the church robes was sent flying, smashing the tables and chairs inside.
On the Mermaid's neck, a fat arm still remained, blood spurting and exploding in the air like water droplets before falling to the ground.
Only at this moment.
"Ah!!!"
A scream of pain tore through the air as the obese man collapsed in the corner of the room.
The wall above him was cracked and dented, and the surrounding redwood furniture was shattered into pieces.
As for the man himself, blood flowed from his seven orifices, and his pores oozed crimson.
His bones were clearly crushed into powder, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, and the tiny blood vessels had already burst.
Yet, even so, he did not die immediately.
Frost quietly spread, freezing the wounds in his blood vessels.
He stared fixedly at the approaching figure in golden armor, filled with terror and confusion, unable to understand when he had made such an enemy.
"Keep screaming."
A deep voice rang out as the two-meter-tall golden armored figure stood before him, looking down indifferently.
"Scream until your throat breaks. Let's see if your god will come to save you."
The golden light obscured everything, hiding his face and eyes.
His tone was as cold as frost, making the gray-cloaked woman outside the house wonder who the true frost believer was.
"Who... are you?"
The obese man struggled to ask, his words becoming slurred.
"I am... the Frost Bishop... you can't kill..."
Bang!!
His head exploded, and the house shook violently.
"It seems your god did not protect you."
In a calm tone, the golden armored figure turned his gaze outside.
The gray-cloaked woman, who had hidden her presence using an Extraordinary Artifact, trembled and quickly pressed her back against the wall, holding her breath and not daring to make a sound.
A drop of cold sweat formed and slid down her cheek.
She never expected to encounter that mysterious fifth-tier powerhouse again.
Why was he here? Why did he kill the Frost Bishop?
This was a powerhouse even her teacher couldn't handle. If he turned his attention to her...
"Let's go."
The deep voice echoed, and movement came from inside the house again.
The golden armored figure seemed not to have noticed her. Instead, he rolled out two long cloths from inside and draped them over the two Mermaids.
A flash of golden light, and the ropes binding them fell to the ground.
"Go... where?"
The younger Mermaid, who looked about fifteen or sixteen, stopped crying and couldn't help but ask.
The older one, around twenty-five or twenty-six, wrapped the cloth around her wounds, still eyeing Chen Feng with some wariness.
"Are you... here to save us?"
"I was entrusted to do so," Chen Feng replied calmly, not angered but rather appreciating her caution.
He had sensed the situation here, then made an excuse to send Lei Long and Tulin away before charging in.
The atmosphere fell silent for a few moments, until a series of noises came from outside the villa, and the younger Mermaid looked at him with hopeful eyes.
The twenty-five or twenty-six-year-old Mermaid nodded in gratitude before following Chen Feng away from the place.
Unfortunately, they were clearly not accustomed to walking on land, their movements slow and awkward.
Chen Feng remained silent, simply glancing at a carriage inside the villa and guiding the two Mermaids into it.
Some servants watched the entire scene, some in shock, others trembling in fear.
No one dared to stop them, and the carriage soon departed, heading straight for the coast.
"Luckily, he didn't notice me."
The woman in the gray cloak sighed in relief as she watched the figure disappear.
Her back was drenched in cold sweat, and she bit her lip, a trace of unwillingness still lingering in her eyes.
She would never forget the scene when her teacher's Star Soul Elixir was forcibly taken.
Suppressing her thoughts, Fran knew this wasn't the time to dwell on it.
She hurried into the house, rummaging through drawers and cabinets as if searching for some letters.
The carriage sped toward the coast, and Chen Feng withdrew his senses, paying it little mind.
He had already noticed the woman named Fran.
She wasn't a villain, and she was pitifully weak, so he naturally had no interest in dealing with her.
For a moment, his mind was calm, with only the sound of hoofbeats echoing.
He didn't know how to drive a carriage, but under the influence of his aura, the black horse seemed stimulated, obediently going wherever directed.
The two Mermaids in the carriage clung to each other, still filled with worry and fear.
Noticing their unease, Chen Feng mentioned a name.
"It was Delia who asked me to save you."
At these words, the two visibly perked up, their faces lighting with joy.
"So it was Elder Delia!"
"Thank you, sir!"
Without further ado, the carriage finally arrived at the coast, a short distance from the port.
This was the edge of the pebbles and reefs, where few people gathered.
Seeing the ocean again, the two Mermaids looked excited, ready to leap into the sea.
"How do you plan to return to Merman Bay in your current state?"
Chen Feng bluntly pointed out, and the two paused, realizing the issue.
Banli Port was far from Merman Bay, with pirates lurking, fishing fleets, and other powerful sea creatures.
"Go to Eaglefall Island first. In the future, I'll have my followers take you home."
Chen Feng didn't want to miss out on the Blue Heart Stone or let Elder Delia, who had her own methods, renege on the deal.
He had already devised a plan.
Once he had saved enough Mermaids, Lei Long's fleet would take them back to Merman Bay, while Gata would escort them in the sea and bring back the Blue Heart Stone for him.
"But..."
The two Mermaids still hesitated.
Before they could think further.
Splash!
The waves churned, as if a massive shadow lurked beneath, watching the coast.
The two Mermaids felt a surge of fear, but then a dark blue tentacle emerged from the sea, gently touching the arm of the figure in golden armor.
"Gata, take them to Eaglefall Island."
Chen Feng spoke.
"Sha!!"
A sound seemed to rise from the depths, responding respectfully.
The two Mermaids finally suppressed their shock and, after a moment of hesitation, thanked Chen Feng before leaping into the sea.
Splash! The waves rolled, unnoticed.
The salty sea breeze blew, and Chen Feng turned to look at the streets and districts of Banli Port.
Carriages, houses, factories.
Gray filled the sky, and the golden hue on his body slowly faded.
Along with himself, he vanished completely from the spot.
---
"Phew!"
Exhaling a turbid breath, Chen Feng stood by the window, gazing at the urban area of Nanjiang.
Flying cars zipped past, and skyscrapers densely populated the skyline.
Chen Feng suppressed his daze, realizing he had returned to Earth.
Though only a night had passed here, several days had gone by in the other realm. Even though it wasn't his first time experiencing this, he still felt somewhat disoriented.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, his senses stirred.
Chen Feng looked at his left arm, and through his clothes, he saw what appeared to be a tattoo of an octopus.
"Sha!!"
A surprised voice echoed in his mind, and Chen Feng was taken aback.
He had left the Dead Crow Secret Realm, but his connection with the Giant Octopus, Gata, had not been severed.
The only difference was that this connection now felt somewhat obstructed and more difficult to maintain.
It was like chatting online with a noticeable delay in messages.
"Is it because time flows differently between the two realms?"
Chen Feng pondered silently, then heard Gata's surprised inquiry.
The other party possessed a certain level of human intelligence and had clearly noticed the anomaly.
Chen Feng reassured it for a moment, not overly concerned about any secrets being exposed.
After all, Gata's Soul Flame was in his hands, serving as the best restraint.
"It's just a pity that it seems I can't summon it here?"
Chen Feng tried to replicate the Holy Shield Colossus's method.
But unfortunately, he could feel an extremely strong obstruction preventing him from doing so.
"Perhaps I need a device similar to the Star Ring."
"Or maybe some kind of summoning ritual."
Shaking his head, he decided not to delve deeper and instead turned his attention to the panel before him.
[Willpower: 54.2]
The transformation of the Gate of Spirit had concluded, and his willpower attribute had reached its limit.
While there were no significant changes in other aspects of his body, he could clearly sense that his strength had increased slightly.
The threshold of the fifth rank was right before him. He was just one step away from breaking through to the Pinnacle Realm.
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Chen Feng tidied up and sent a message to Zhou Wuren, wanting to inquire if there were any methods related to the unity of essence, energy, and spirit.
Perhaps it was too early, as there was no reply yet.
Not in a hurry, he pushed open the door and walked into the corridor.
"Did you hear? Senior Sister Lin broke through? Is it true?"
"That's the True Intent Realm, the same level as the sect master!"
"It's true. I heard it happened last night after she returned to the sect."
The faint commotion from the first floor of the Martial Hall reached his ears, but Chen Feng wasn't overly surprised.
Lin Xiaoyun was already in her mid-thirties, having practiced martial arts for over twenty years. Her talent was not weak, and she had long been one of the only two True Disciples at the Third Level of Inner Strength.
Her perilous journey to Yun Port, coupled with the flourishing state of the Flame Tiger Sect and its abundant resources, made her breakthrough into the True Intent Realm seem entirely reasonable.
"I'm so envious of Senior Sister Lin."
Cao Tong and a few accompanying disciples walked over with breakfast, their voices filled with admiration.
Dressed in a thick fleece hoodie, Chen Feng noticed that Cao Tong's aura hadn't changed much, clearly indicating he had hit a bottleneck.
"The True Intent Realm... If I could break through to that, my life would be complete."
Cao Tong grinned, his tone sincere and heartfelt.
After all, the Grandmaster level was too lofty and distant, while the True Intent Realm was already considered the foundation of a sect.
Seeing this, Chen Feng remained silent, once again feeling the decline of martial arts.
The True Intent Realm was only the third rank, yet it stood like an insurmountable mountain before many.
In contrast, becoming a Cyborg was much easier.
With sufficient resources and a strong will, one could modify their body to achieve Silver-grade strength.
Silent, he then walked to the adjacent meditation room.
Steam rose, and the aroma of hot porridge and dried meat wafted into his nostrils.
Chen Feng's thoughts wandered, and he couldn't help but wonder, even if he broke through to the Pinnacle Realm and achieved Transcendence in the future.
Could the martial arts of Earth truly stand against the advancements of modification technology?
Noticing his deep contemplation, Cao Tong refrained from disturbing him.
Finally, with a buzz, his phone vibrated.
Chen Feng's thoughts were interrupted as he glanced at the WeChat message.
[Chen Yun: Little Feng, I'll be arriving in Nanjiang this afternoon! Smile.jpg]
[A friend is coming with me, her father also works here. Are you free tonight? Let's have dinner together.]
After reading the message, Chen Feng inquired about her train schedule and replied with a simple "Okay."
"Okay."
The message in WeChat was quickly received. On the high-speed train to Nanjiang, two girls sat side by side by the window.
One wore a black down jacket, her long black hair tied into a ponytail.
Though her face was plain and she wore little makeup, her smile gave off a refreshing and clean vibe.
"Yunyun, your little brother seems quite aloof, doesn't he?"
Seeing the brief message on her phone, the girl sitting by the window teased with a laugh.
She wore a beige wool coat, black pencil pants, and leather boots.
With light makeup and red lips, her features beneath her high nose bridge were quite beautiful and captivating.
"That's just Little Feng's personality. He's quite independent and doesn't like unnecessary chatter."
"But he's warm-hearted despite his cold exterior. You'll see when you meet him."
Chen Yun smiled as she spoke, and the girl beside her nodded with a smile.
"Alright, with such a good sister like you, the brother must be great too."
"He's coming to pick you up, right? That's nice. My dad probably won't make it."
The girl in the beige coat said with a hint of envy. Chen Yun patted her wrist, comforting her, "Weiwei, your dad must be really busy at the Superhuman Group. I'm sure he wanted to come pick you up."
"But it's okay, I'm here. I'll keep you company."
"Alright, thank goodness you're here."
"But remember, in the days before New Year, you have to take me to all the fun places in Nanjiang."
The girl in the beige coat, called Weiwei, held her hand and said with anticipation. Chen Yun smiled and agreed.
"I've already made a plan for us. The day after tomorrow, we'll go to Huai River Ancient Town. The beef soup there is really good."
"In the evening, we'll go to Yuexiu Lake, and then climb Little South Mountain to watch the sunrise."
"Great, that's so like you."
The girl named Weiwei laughed and said a few words. The two chatted and laughed all the way.
By late afternoon, around four or five o'clock, Nanjiang was getting closer.
Chen Yun looked out at the many new high-rise buildings. If it weren't for the intelligent female voice announcing the station, she might have thought she had come to the wrong place.
"Nanjiang has changed so much."
She sighed. The girl beside her, who had never been here before, didn't feel much difference.
"Looks like Nanjiang's planning is quite good. No wonder my dad and others were sent here to set up a branch."
The girl in the beige coat praised. The two then picked up their pink and white suitcases, slung their small bags, and stepped off the high-speed train.
The bustling crowd included elderly couples with backpacks here for tourism, as well as young college students returning home for the winter break.
People wore coats, down jackets, and lantern pants, blending into the flow of the crowd. They took the escalator down to the first floor of the high-speed train station.
Buzz!
The phone vibrated, and Chen Yun paused her steps. With one hand steadying the suitcase and a small cloth bag, she picked up the phone with the other to check the message.
[Xiao Feng: I'm at the exit.]
"Xiao Feng is here, he's come to pick us up."
Chen Yun explained with a smile, and the girl beside her nodded and followed.
Amidst the bustling crowd, they left the first-floor hall and walked out through the exit onto the smooth stone-brick square.
A young man in a black trench coat stood about seven or eight meters away, seemingly taller and more robust than before, exceptionally burly.
Behind him was another man in a thick fleece hoodie, equally burly, standing half a step behind.
"Xiao Feng!"
Chen Yun spotted him from afar, pleasantly surprised, all her longing fulfilled in that moment.
Quickening her pace, she dragged the suitcase and led the girl in the beige trench coat forward.
The distance closed, but in the next second.
The path that should have been unobstructed was suddenly blocked by darkness, as two figures appeared midway, standing in their way.
(End of the Chapter)
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